CHILD LABOUR


internationalstandardspromoting decentworkfordomesticworkers. BytheConventionNo.189,the ILOaskedmemberStatestoseta minimumagefordomesticworkers whichhadtobeconsistentwith theILO’sChildLabourConvention andnolowerthantheestablished normsforworkers.ConventionNo. 189andRecommendationNo. 201highlightedtheneedtoidentify hazardouselementsofdomestic workandtoprohibitsuchworkfor childrenundertheageof18. Educationeradicatesilliteracy


andprovidesameanstoeconomic empowermentandopportunitytolive abetterlife. Article26(1)ofUniversal DeclarationofHumanRights assuresthateveryonehastherightto educationwhichshallbefree,atleast attheelementaryandfundamental stages.


Elementaryeducationshall


becompulsory.Technicaland professionaleducationshallbemade availableandhighereducationshall equallybeaccessibletoallonthe basisofmerit.Educationenables developmentofhumanpersonality andstrength,respectforhumanrights andfundamentalfreedoms.Theduty oftheStateistoprovidefacilities andopportunitiesforthechildren driventochildlabourtodeveloptheir personalityasresponsiblecitizens. Duetopoverty,childrenare


• Boysandgirlswerebeing physi- cally abused equally; • 56.38per cent of thechildren wereworking in illegal/hazardous occupations; • 65percentofthechildrenwere workingbecauseof parental pressure.


Thelargestnumberofchild


labourinstancesisintheAsia-Pacific region(113.6million)followedby Sub-SaharanAfrica(65.1million) andLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean (14.1million).Intermsofpopulation, Sub-SaharanAfricapresentsthe mostalarmingpicture.Oneinfour childrenisachildlabourerinthe region–comparedtoroughlyonein eightinAsia-Pacificandonein10in LatinAmericaandCaribbean.


Childlabourersareengagedin


threebroadgroupingsofeconomic activities: agriculture,industryand service.Mostareagedbetween5 to17yearsoldareinagriculture(60 percent)comparedtosome26per centinserviceandsevenpercent inindustrysectors.Whileboysare morelikelytoundertakeactivities inagricultureandindustry, girls outnumberboysindomesticservices. WhiletheAsia-Pacific,Latin


AmericaandtheCaribbeanregions continuetoreducechildlabour,Sub- SaharanAfricahaswitnessedan increase.


A brighter future In2011,theInternationalLabour Organizationadoptednew


subjectedtomanyvisibleandinvisible sufferingsanddisabilities.The ConventionontheRightsofChild whichwasratifiedbytheGovernment ofIndiaon11December1992 recognizestherightofthechildfor fullandharmoniousdevelopmentof hisorherpersonality.Article3ofthe Conventionmandatesthatthebest interestofthechildistheprimary consideration,whileArticle27(i) providesthatStatepartiesrecognize therightofeverychildtoanadequate standardoflivingforthechild’s physical,mental,spiritual,moraland socialdevelopment.Thegovernment ofIndiahasmadeadeclarationwith regardtoArticle32oftheConvention whichstates: “Whilefullysubscribingtothe objectivesandpurposesofthe


Convention,realizingthatcertain oftherightsofthechild,namely thosepertainingtoeconomic,social andcultural rights,canonlybe progressivelyimplementedinthe developingcountries,subjecttothe extentofavailableresourcesand withintheframeworkofinternational co-operation;recognizingthat thechildhastobeprotectedfrom exploitationofallformsincluding economicexploitation;noting thatforseveralreasonschildren ofdifferentagesdoworkinIndia; havingprescribedminimumages foremploymentinhazardous occupationsandincertainother areas;havingmaderegulatory provisionsregardinghoursand conditionsofemployment;and beingawarethatit isnotpractical immediatelytoprescribeminimum agesforadmissiontoeachandevery areaofemploymentinIndia–the GovernmentofIndiaundertakes totakemeasurestoprogressively implementtheprovisionsofArticle 32,particularlyparagraph2(a),in accordancewithitsnationallegislation andrelevantinternationalinstruments towhichit isaStateParty.” Article21,21A,23,24,39(e)


and(f),45,46oftheConstitution ofIndia,readwiththePreamble, mandatescompulsoryeducationof children,socio-economicjusticeto childrenandtheirempowerment,full growthoftheirpersonality–socially, educationallyandculturally–growing upasamatterofright. Variouswelfarelawsmadeby


Parliamentandtheappropriate stateLegislatureswillonlybean illusionunlesstheyareeffectively implementedandmadeareality. Pragmatic,realisticandconstructive stepsandactionsarerequiredto enablethechildrencomingfrompoor anddisadvantagedbackgroundsto enjoytheirchildhoodsanddevelop theirpersonalities. Childlabourmustbeeradicated


throughpromotingeducationand well-plannedpovertyalleviation anddevelopmentalschemes,as wellasthroughtheimpositionof tradeactionsontheemploymentof children.


The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue Two | 121


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